The Beach Report for July 3 to 9, 2020

Water quality testing results for beaches in Peterborough, Kawartha Lakes, Haliburton, and Northumberland

A young girl during summer heading to a beach for a swim

Every Friday during swimming season, we post The Beach Report™ — our weekly report of the results of water quality testing at beaches in the greater Kawarthas region — and update it throughout the week as conditions change.

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, going to the beach is a different experience this year. Public health officials recommend staying home if you feel sick, visiting a beach close to your home to avoid unnecessary travel, bringing hand sanitizer and disinfecting wipes, and maintaining at least two metres of physical distance from other beachgoers.

As of July 9, 2020, the following beach has been posted as unsafe for swimming:

  • Hastings Waterfront North – Trent Hills (sample date July 6)

The following beaches in Northumberland County are closed due to COVID-19:

  • Victoria Park in Cobourg (closed all summer)
  • Little Lake in Cramahe
  • Sandy Bay Beach in Alnwick Haldimand
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Below are the complete results of water quality testing at beaches in Peterborough, the City of Kawartha Lakes, Haliburton County, and Northumberland County.

In the City of Peterborough, Peterborough Public Health Inspectors sample the beaches at Rogers Cove and Beavermead every business day, and public beaches in the County of Peterborough are sampled at least once a week (except for Chandos Beach, Quarry Bay Beach, and White’s Beach which are sampled at least once in June, July, and August).

The Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit provides weekly testing results for beaches in the City of Kawartha Lakes, Haliburton County, and Northumberland County. Testing is based on the most recent test results from the provincial lab in Peterborough for water samples taken from these beaches.

During the summer, local health units sample water at area beaches and test for bacteria such as E. coli to determine if the water quality at a beach is safe for public use. Popular beaches, like the beach at Roger's Cove in Peterborough's East City, are tested every business day while most other beaches are tested weekly. (Photo: Bruce Head / kawarthaNOW.com)
During the summer, local health units sample water at area beaches and test for bacteria such as E. coli to determine if the water quality at a beach is safe for public use. Popular beaches, like the beach at Roger’s Cove in Peterborough’s East City, are tested every business day while most other beaches are tested weekly. (Photo: Bruce Head / kawarthaNOW.com)

Important note

The following test results may not reflect current water quality conditions. Water samples can take one to three days to process and heavy rainfall, high winds or wave activity, large numbers of waterfowl near a beach, or large numbers of swimmers can rapidly change water quality.

You should always check current conditions before deciding to use a beach. You should also monitor other factors that might suggest a beach is unsafe to use, such as floating debris, oil, discoloured water, bad odours, and excessive weed growth.

While we strive to update this story with the current conditions, you should confirm the most recent test results by visiting the local health unit websites at Peterborough Public Health and Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit. As noted above, the beaches at Rogers Cove and Beavermead are tested every business day so the results listed below may not be current.

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Peterborough City/County

City of Peterborough Beaches (sampled each business day)

Roger’s Cove (131 Maria St, Peterborough) – sample date 8-Jul-2020 – SAFE

Beavermead (2011 Ashburnham Drive, Peterborough) – sample date 8-Jul-2020 – SAFE

Peterborough County Beaches (sampled weekly)

Back Dam Beach (902 Rock Rd., Warsaw, Township of Douro-Dummer) – sample date 6-Jul-2020 – SAFE

Buckhorn (John Street, Buckhorn) – sample date 7-Jul-2020 – SAFE

Crowe’s Line Beach (240 Crowe’s Line Rd, Harvey) – sample date 7-Jul-2020 – SAFE

Curve Lake Lance Woods Park (Chemong St S, Curve Lake) – sample date 7-Jul-2020 – SAFE

Curve Lake Henry’s Gumming (Whetung St E, Curve Lake) – sample date 7-Jul-2020 – SAFE

Douro (205 Douro Second Line, Douro-Dummer) – sample date 6-Jul-2020 – SAFE

Ennismore (1053 Ennis Road, Ennismore) – sample date 6-Jul-2020 – SAFE

Hiawatha (1 Lakeshore Rd, Hiawatha) – sample date 2-Jul-2020 – SAFE

Jones Beach (908 Jones Beach Road, Bridgenorth) – sample date 7-Jul-2020 – SAFE

Lakefield Park (100 Hague Boulevard, Lakefield) – sample date 7-Jul-2020 – SAFE

Norwood (12 Belmont St, Norwood) – sample date 6-Jul-2020 – SAFE

Sandy Lake (1239 Lakehurst Road, Municipality of Trent Lakes) – sample date 7-Jul-2020 – SAFE

Selwyn (2251 Birch Island Road, Selwyn) – sample date 6-Jul-2020 – SAFE

Squirrel Creek Conservation Area (2445 Wallace Point Rd, South Monaghan) – sample date 2-Jul-2020 – SAFE

Warsaw Caves (289 Caves Rd, Warsaw) – sample date 6-Jul-2020 – SAFE

Peterborough County Beaches (sampled monthly)

Belmont Lake (376 Miles of Memories Road, Belmont) – sample date 18-Jun-2020 – SAFE

Chandos Beach (Hwy 620, North Kawartha) – sample date 18-Jun-2020 – SAFE

Kasshabog Lake (431 Peninsula Road, Methune) – sample date 18-Jun-2020 – SAFE

Quarry Bay (1986 Northey’s Bay Rd, Woodview) – sample date 18-Jun-2020 – SAFE

White’s Beach (Clearview Drive, Galway) – sample date 17-Jun-2020 – SAFE

 

City of Kawartha Lakes

Beach Park – Bobcaygeon – sample date June 29 – SAFE

Birch Point – Fenelon Falls – sample date July 6 – SAFE

Blanchards Road Beach – Bexley – sample date July 6 – SAFE

Bond Street – Fenelon Falls – sample date July 6 – SAFE

Burnt River Beach – Somerville – sample date July 6 – SAFE

Centennial Beach – Verulam – sample date June 29 – SAFE

Centennial Park West – Eldon – sample date July 6 – SAFE

Burnt River Four Mile Lake – Somerville – sample date July 6 – SAFE

Head Lake – Laxton – sample date July 6 – SAFE

Norland Bathing Area – Laxton – sample date July 6 – SAFE

Omemee Beach – Emily/ Omemee – sample date June 29 – SAFE

Riverview Beach Park – Bobycaygeon – sample date June 29 – SAFE

Sturgeon Point Beach – Fenelon Falls – sample date July 6 – SAFE

Valentia Beach (Sandbar Beach) – Valentia – sample date June 29 – SAFE

Verulam Recreational Park – Verulam – sample date July 6 – SAFE

 

Haliburton County

Bissett Beach – Minden – sample date June 22 – SAFE

Dorsett Parkette – Algonquin Highlands – sample date June 22 – SAFE

Eagle Lake – Dysart et al – sample date June 23 – SAFE

Elvin Johnson Park – Algonquin Highlands – sample date June 22 – SAFE

Forsters Beach – Minden – sample date June 22 – SAFE

Glamor Lake Park – Highland East – sample date June 22 – SAFE

Gooderham Lake – Highland East – sample date June 22 – SAFE

Haliburton Lake South – Dysart et al – sample date June 23 – SAFE

Rotary Head Lake Beach – Dysart et al – sample date June 29 – SAFE

Wilbermere Lake – Highland East – sample date June 22 – SAFE

Horseshoe Lake – Minden – sample date June 22 – SAFE

Rotary Park Lagoon – Minden – sample date June 29 – SAFE

Rotary Park Main – Minden – sample date June 29 – SAFE

Paudash Lake – Highland East – sample date June 22 – SAFE

West Gilford Pine Lake – Dysart et al – sample date June 23 – SAFE

Sand Point – Dysart et al – sample date June 23 – SAFE

Sandy Cove – Dysart et al – sample date June 23 -SAFE

Kashagauigamog Lake (Silver Lake) – Dysart et al – sample date June 22 – SAFE

Twelve Mile Beach – Minden – sample date June 22 – SAFE

 

Northumberland County

Bewdley Optimist Park – Hamilton – sample date July 6 – SAFE

Crowe Bridge Park – Trent Hills – sample date July 6 – SAFE

Harwood Waterfront & Dock – Hamilton – sample date July 6 – SAFE

Hastings Waterfront North – Trent Hills – sample date July 6 – UNSAFE

Hastings Waterfront South – Trent Hills – sample date July 6 – SAFE

Little Lake – Cramahe – sample date June 22 – CLOSED due to COVID-19

Caldwell Street Beach – Port Hope – Data currently unavailable

East Beach – Port Hope – sample date July 6 – SAFE

West Beach – Port Hope – sample date July 6 – SAFE

Sandy Bay Beach – Alnwick Haldimand – sample date June 22 – CLOSED due to COVID-19

Victoria Park – Cobourg – CLOSED for summer 2020 due to COVID-19

Wicklow Beach – Alnwick Haldimand – sample date July 6 – SAFE